Tour of Navy vessels

By ERNIE PENAREDONDO

The Philippine Star, Friday, August 13, 2010

A young cancer patient shares a meal with Navy officers at the
Philippine Naval Base in Sangley Point, Cavite yesterday.
Children with cancer and chronic illnesses were treated to
aircraft and boat rides and a tour of Navy vessels during an
activity organized by Canon Marketing Inc. in cooperation with
SM Supermalls and the Kythe Foundation.

If ever, Navy wants lease payments in kind

BY VICTOR REYES

Malaya, Friday, August 13, 2010

THE Philippine Navy prefers equipment, instead of cash, as
payment for the planned long-term lease of its headquarters
in Manila and the Bonafacio Naval Station in Fort Bonifacio.

"The proposal of the Navy is goods, items already, and not
money…It should be Navy assets because under the Philippine
laws, it’s hard to procure," Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen.
Ricardo David told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo Wednesday
night.

David said accepting equipment from the firms willing to rent
the Navy properties will also spare officials of complications
of procurement like cases that may be filed by losing bidders.

David said there are instances when a losing bidder would
claim corruption, file a case before the courts, and
subsequently get restraining orders, delaying the acquisition
of needed equipment.

Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said they prefer to be
paid "in kind because we will be avoiding long processes like
the bidding process."

Nevertheless, Arevalo said there is still nothing definite on
the lease of the Navy properties, adding discussions are ongoing.

He said the Navy is just part of a AFP technical working group
discussing the possible lease.

Navy chief Rear Adm. Danilo Cortez said at least three firms
have shown interest in renting Navy properties but would not
give details.

Cortez would not say how much they expect to be generated from
the lease.

President Aquino, in his state of the nation address last month,
said the government could get about $100 million from the planned
lease.

Three private firms keen on leasing Navy properties

By Mario J. Mallari

Tribune, Friday, August 13, 2010

At least three private firms have expressed interest in leasing
the Navy real estates, Navy chief Rear Admiral Danilo Cortez
disclosed yesterday.

“There are a lot that are presenting intention to participate to
the proposal (to lease the Navy headquarters. We have received
(such interest from) three private firms,” Cortez told Camp
Aguinaldo reporters.

In his first State of the Nation Address last month, President
Aquino mentioned that a private consortium is willing to shell
out $100 million for the relocation of the Navy headquarters plus
monthly increments.

“We have to get the most of it from our real estate,” Cortez said.

The Jose Andrada Naval Station, which serves as the headquarters
of the Philippine Navy, is occupying 1.13 hectares of prime land
along Roxas Boulevard in Manila, adjacent to the Cultural Center
of the Philippines Complex in Pasay City.

Aside from the Navy headquarters, also being considered for lease
are Navy prime lots in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City and other
camps in Cebu and Palawan provinces.

The Navy leadership came up with the idea to lease its properties
to help generate funds to finance its eyed modernization.

“For the improvement of the Navy and modernization, they (proposals)
are okay to us,” Cortez said.

He said during talks with Navy personnel, the idea was welcomed as
“we will be transferring to a better building (that is) more
comfortable and modernize our equipment.”

Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said one of the options that
were broached in the proposal to lease the Navy properties is the
direct acquisition of items from the private consortiums instead of
paying rentals.

“One option is for them to pay rentals…another option is they will
give us just in kind…so they will not be giving us money,” he
explained.

Arevalo, though, admitted that the Navy leadership is more keen on
receiving items instead of cash.

“The better option now being studied is in kind because that is faster
and it might lessen the thoughts of other people, their apprehensions
about how the amount will be received,” he said.

SM in Bonifacio South bid

BY BEN ARNOLD O. DE VERA

Manila Times, Friday, 13 August 2010

State-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) on
Thursday announced that it is looking for a joint venture partner
in developing a portion of the southern section of Fort Bonifacio
after receiving an unsolicited proposal from the SM group of
companies.

BCDA published a notice of invitation for comparative proposals
for the privatization and development of the 33.1-hectare Bonifacio
South property covering the Philippine Army Support Command (ASCOM)
and Special Services Unit (SSU) and the Philippine Navy’s Bonifacio
Naval Station (BNS) and Philippine Marine Corps (PMC).

BCDA said these areas are not part of the properties that President
Benigno Aquino 3rd earlier said would be leased to generate funding
for the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

BCDA said SM Land Inc. has submitted an unsolicited proposal to
develop the area, with an investment commitment of at least P20
billion.

The company’s proposal offers upfront cash worth P2 billion upon
the signing of the joint venture contract as well as secured annual
revenues for 20 years totaling P25.9 billion—f for a present value
of P36,900 per square meter.

It also pledged to replicate military facilities that would be
affected by the disposition.

SM Land’s proposal will be subject to competitive challenge under
Annex C of the National Economic and Development Authority’s (NEDA)
Joint Venture Guidelines.

Under the master plan for Bonifacio South, the BNS/PMC/ASCOM/SSU
lots would be developed into a medium- to high-density residential
and mixed-use complex, with a maximum allowable gross floor area of
1.355 million square meters.

BCDA subjects Boni land bid to Swiss challenge

By Ayen Infante

The Daily Tribune, Friday, August 13, 2010

After the successful sale of the former Joint US Military
Advisory Group (Jusmag) property, the state-owned Bases
Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said it is
readying the disposition through joint venture of another
significant parcel in Bonifacio South.

BCDA has published a notice of invitation to firms seeking
to challenge the unsolicited proposal of SM Land Inc. (SMLI)
for the 33.1-hectare military area in Bonifacio South.

The property is composed of lands presently occupied in part
by the Army Support Command and Special Services Unit of the
Philippine Army and in part by the Bonifacio Naval Station
and Philippine Marine Corps of the Philippine Navy.

These lands were transferred and subsequently titled to BCDA
for disposition or sale. The property lies outside the areas
earlier identified by President Aquino for long-term lease to
generate funds to be used in augmenting the AFP modernization
budget in his State of the Nation Address.

The joint venture proposal submitted to BCDA by SMLI would be
subject to competitive challenge as required under the National
Economic and Development Authority joint venture Guidelines.

SMLI’s proposal offers an upfront cash of P2 billion upon
signing of the JV contract and secured yearly revenues, totaling
P25.9 billion for 20 years, for a present value of P36,900 per
square meter. Investment commitment of SMLI for the project
stands at a minimum of P20 billion.

SMLI has also committed to advance the funds for and undertake
the replication of military facilities affected by the
development of the property. Final determination of the
replication cost of affected military facilities is currently
being undertaken.

Under the BCDA law, bulk of the disposition proceeds from Fort
Bonifacio and Villamor Air Base will go to the AFP Modernization
Fund which urgently needs more cash infusions as well as the AFP
replication and relocation expenses. As of December 31, 2009,
BCDA has generated P46.495 billion in disposition proceeds.

Under the Bonifacio South master plan, the proposed area for
disposition would be developed into a medium- to high-density
residential and mix use complex, with a strong institutional
component and has a maximum allowable gross floor area of 1.355
million sq.m.

The property is located along Lawton Avenue and is separated
from the JUSMAG property by the NAMRIA area and a sic-hectare
strip of land retained by the Philippine Army.

The 2009 bidding for the JUSMAG property under Annex A of the NEDA
JV Guidelines yielded a present value of secured net cash inflows
of P31,111 per sq.m., under which the upfront cash was P1.5 billion
upon contract signing, secured yearly revenues totaling P20 billion
over 22 years and P700 million will be advanced for the replication
of the military quarters occupying the JUSMAG property. Minimum
investment for the development of the JUSMAG property is P22 billion.

The projected yields under proposals submitted by interested private
sector proponents for both JUSMAG and the new area are way above
third party appraisals of P15,000 per sq.m. and P8,000 per sq.m.,
respectively, conducted on the properties in 2009.

BCDA is confident that in this disposition, the government will be
able to take advantage of the strong real estate sector at present.
The disposition will also answer in part the urgent need for funds
for the AFP Modernization Program and other government projects.

BCDA seeks challengers to SM bid

By Abigail L. Ho

Philippine Daily Inquirer, Friday, August 13, 2010

THE BASES Conversion and Development Authority is seeking
challengers to the unsolicited proposal of SM Land Inc.
for a joint venture to develop a 33.1-hectare property in
Bonifacio South.

The property up for development is composed of parcels of
land currently occupied by the Army Support Command (Ascom)
and Special Services Unit (SSU) of the Philippine Army and
the Bonifacio Naval Station (BNS) and Philippine Marine
Corps (PMC) of the Philippine Navy.

The Bonifacio South master plan provided for the development
of the BNS/PMC/Ascom/SSU area into a medium- to high-density
residential and mix-use complex, with a strong institutional
component and a maximum allowable gross floor area of 1.355
million square meters.

The entire property is located along Lawton Avenue, separated
from the Jusmag property by the National Mapping and Resource
Information Authority area and a six-hectare strip of land
retained by the Philippine Army.

In its unsolicited proposal, SM Land offered an upfront cash
payment of P2 billion upon the signing of the joint venture
contract with the BCDA.

It also committed secured yearly revenues amounting to P25.9
billion for 20 years or P36,900 per square meter.

Also, SM Land also offered to advance the funds needed to
replicate the military facilities that would be affected by
the development.

No amount has been set for this part of the venture, as the
BCDA was still determining the cost of the replication project.

SM Land’s proposal, however, was still subject to competitive
challenge under Annex C of the National Economic and Development
Authority Joint Venture Guidelines.

The BCDA expects yields from the Bonifacio South development to
be significantly higher than third-party appraisals of the property.

An appraisal done on the property last year placed its value at
only P8,000 per square meter, vis-à-vis SM Land’s offer of P36,900
per square meter.

SM Land offers P20 billion for BCDA property

By BERNIE CAHILES-MAGKILAT

Manila Bulletin, Friday, August 13, 2010

SM Land Inc. has offered to invest P20 billion for the development
of the 33.1 hectare prime government property south of Fort Bonifacio
and a secured yearly revenues totaling P25.9 billion over a 20-year
period.

The state-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA)
Thursday announced that SMLI’s unsolicited joint venture proposal
would be subject to competitive challenge as required under Annex
C of the NEDA Joint Venture (JV) Guidelines.

SMLI’s proposal includes an upfront cash of P2 billion upon signing
of the JV contract and secured yearly revenues, totaling P25.9
billion for 20 years, for a present value of P36,900 per square
meter. Investment commitment of SMLI for the project stands at a
minimum of P20 billion.

The property is composed of lands presently occupied in part by
the Army Support Command (ASCom) and Special Services Unit (SSU)
of the Philippine Army and in part by the Bonifacio Naval Station
and Philippine Marine Corps of the Philippine Navy.

These lands were transferred and subsequently titled to BCDA for
disposition/sale pursuant to the BCDA charter (R.A. 7227), which
was passed into law in 1992 during the administration of President
Corazon Aquino. These lands are outside the areas earlier
identified by President Noynoy Aquino for long-term lease to
generate funds to augment the AFP Modernization budget in his
State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA).

BCDA said that SMLI shall advance the funds for and undertake the
replication of military facilities affected by the development of
the property. Final determination of the replication cost of
affected military facilities is currently being undertaken.

Under the BCDA law, bulk of the disposition proceeds from Fort
Bonifacio and Villamor Air Base goes to the AFP Modernization Fund
which urgently needs more cash infusions as well as the AFP
replication and relocation expenses.

As of December 31, 2009, BCDA has generated P46.495 billion in
disposition proceeds.

SM Land offers P48 B for dev't of Fort Boni lot

By Ma. Elisa P. Osorio

The Philippine Star Business, Friday, August 13, 2010

Henry SY-led SM Land Inc (SMLI) has offered nearly P48 billion to develop a 33.1-hectare lot south of Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA)has called for counter-proposal to SMLI's unsolicited bid for the property occupied by the Philippine Army and Philippine Navy.

BCDA said interested developers will have to top SMLI's proposal to put out P2-billion upfront cash upon contract signing and remittances worth P25.9 billion over 20 years. SMLI will also be investing another P20 billion to develop the area, and has promised to advance the funds for relocating the military facilities.

Under the government's join venture rules for such "Swiss Challenges," SMLI will bag the contract if it can match the highest counter-offer.

The property is composed of lands presently occupied in part by the Army Support Command (ASCom) and Special Service Unit (SSU) of the Philippine Army and in part by the Bonifacio Naval Station and Philippine Marine Corps of the Philippine Navy.

Under the Bonifacio South master plan for the lot, the area would be developed into a medium-to-high-density residential and mix use complex, with a strong institutional component and has a maximum allowable gross floor area of 1.355 million sq.m.

BCDA is confident that the government will be able to take advantage of the strong real estate sector at present. The disposition will also answer in part the urgent need for funds for the AFP modernization program and other government projects.

Puerto Princessa massacre suspected nabbed

By Alexis Romero

Philippine Star, Friday, August 13, 2010

Police arrested a former helper, believed to behind the
massacre of retired Navy Lt. Commander Ernesto Paiton,
his wife, daughter and two other relatives in Puerto
Princessa, Palawan on Aug. 9.

Senior Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., spokesman of
the Philippine National Police (PNP), said local police
apprehended Florencio Magada, 37, after his description
matched the information given by witnesses.

"Elements of Special Investigation Task Group picked up
Magada for questioning on Paiton killings," said Cruz.

In a police lineup, the suspect positively identified by
the witness as the one fleeing the crime scene wearing a
blue jacket and bloodied pants. Police recovered the blue
jacket in the possession of the suspect.

Police also recovered a khaki belt bag, bull cap, infant
shirt with blood stain, a blood stained white t-shirt and
two bolos measuring 23.4 inches and 21.7 inches.

Investigators will ask the Scene of the Crime Operatives
to get a swab from the bolo to check the presence of the
blood of the victims.

Cruz said other corroborative evidences are being gathered
for filling of the case in court for five counts of murder
for the killing of paiton, 59; his wife, Chief Petty Officer
Carmelita, 55; their daughter Erlita, 21; niece Sharon Cabatuan,
19; and nephew Renato Cabatuan, 17.

In a phone interview, Senior Superintendent Caesar Daniel
Miranda, Puerto Princessa City police chief, said magada was
arrested in his house in Barangay Bacungan, also in Puerto
Princessa at around 2 a. m. yesterday morning.

Aside from the massacre, Miranda said Magada has two standing
warrants of arrest for rape in relation with Republic Act 7610
or the anti-child abuse law, which also took place in the city.
The warrant was issued by judge Jose bayani Usman issued on Oct.
14 2009.

Miranda noted that they are still verifying if Magada committed
the crime alone or with an accomplice, including the driver of
the tricycle he used when he escaped.

Cruz said the suspect used to work as a caretaker of the farm of
Paiton, in Barangay Bacungan, for six years but was terminated
last year for still unknown reason.

"Since then he got angry with the victims. There was also
information that the suspect was seen sharpening his bolo," he
added.

For its part, the Philippine Navy welcomed the arrest of the
suspect behind last Monday's massacre in Puerto Prncessa.

"The Philippine Navy led by its Flag Officer-in-Command Rear
Admiral Danilo Cortez is comforted by the report that the suspect
was already apprehended by the police," Navy spokesman Lt, Col.
Edgard Arevalo said in a text message.

He said the murder of the Paiton couple and three others was
"gruesome" and calls for the giving of justice.

"We congratulate the members of the team led by the PNP for
the immediate resolution of the crime by bringing the purported
killer to the bar of justice," Arevalo said.

Military real estate na 'di na kailangan hiniling na ibenta

Ni Beth A.

Remate, Huwebes, 12 Agosto 2010

Mismong ang dating militar at senador at ngayo'y congressman
na si Rep. Rodolfo Biazon ang nagpanukalang ibenta na ang mga
hindi na kinakailangang ariarian, kampo at lupain ng militar
sa buong bansa upang magamit sa modernisasyon ng Armed Forces
of the Philippines.

Dahil dito, hiniling ng dating senador sa kanyang panukala sa
Kamara na aprubahan ang kanyang panukala na nagbibigay ng
awtorisasyon kay Pangulong Benigno C. Aquino III na tukuyin
ang mga military real estate na maaaring ibenta.

Nanniwala ang kinatawan ng Muntinlupa na ang kanyang isinulong
na House Bill 1162 ay makatutulong sa pagtukoy ng mga pwedeng
ibentang military camps at reservations sa buong bansa para sa
mabilisang pagpapatupad ng planong modernisasyon sa AFP.

Matatandaang inihayag ni Pangulong Arroyo sa kanyang State of
the Nation Address na isa sa priority program ng kanyang
administrasyon ang AFP modernization kaya ikinokonsidera ang
alok na $100 milyon ng grupo ng ilang dayuhang mamumuhunan para
sa upa ng Philippine Navy Headquarters sa Roxas Blvd. at Naval
Station sa Fort Bonifacio.

Inalok din ng mga imbestor na kanila ring gagastusan ang paglilipat
ng PN headquarters sa Camp Aguinaldo at i-remit sa Philippine
government ang kikitain ng negosyong kanilang itatayo.

Ayon sa solon hindi lubos na naipapatupad ang Republic Act 7898,
na mas kilala na AFP Modernization Act, na naging batas noon pang
February 23, 1995 na may alokasyong P50 billion sa loob ng 5 taon
para sa modernization program.

Hinihiling ng nasabing panukala ang pagtatag ng Military Real
Estate Development Authority na siyang mangangasiwa sa pagbebenta
at pamamahala sa development ng military real estate.

1 dead, 12 missing in ship sinking

By Delfin T. Mallari

PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER, TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2010

THE CAPTAIN of a cargo vessel that sank off Romblon in
the wee hours of Saturday and two of his crew were
rescued by local fishermen yesterday, said the Coast Guard.

Lt. Commander Armand Balilo said Capt. Joselito Cortejos,
skipper of SF Freighter and crane operator Jerry Cortez
were found along the shoreline of General Luna, Quezon,
while the vessel's assistant engineer Joseph Jabonete was
rescued along the shoreline of Catanauan town.

"They were rescued by local fishermen in the area on Monday
morning," Balilo told the Inquirer by phone yesterday. He
said the three men were brought to General Luna General
Hospital in Quezon for medical treatment.

Rescuers have also found the body of another crew member
but Balilo said they could not yet release the name of
the first confirmed fatality as the family has yet to be
notified.

Rescue
Search and rescue operations continued for the 12 missing
crew of the vessel, which sank after it encountered engine
trouble and was engulfed by big waves off Don Hermanas
Island in Romblon.

The Philippine Navy has deployed its biggest ship and three
search planes to help in the search and rescue of the crew
of SF Freighter.

At 1:20 p.m. yesterday, BRP Raja Humabon manned by a crew of
nine officers and 41 enlisted personnel sailed to Dos
Hermanas Island in Romblon to assists in search and rescue
operations for SF Freigther, said Navy spokesman, Marine
Col. Edgard Arevalo.

He said the BRP Raja Humabon, under the command of Capt.
Adelius Bordado, is the biggest Navy vessel thus far at 306
feet and 36 feet in length and breadth, respectively.

"The focus of the search will be the vicinity of Dos Hermanas
Island in Romblon. The expanded search area is now 900 square
nautical miles, taking into account the drift, the prevailing
weather condition and other data available," he said.

The Navy also palced on standby a diesel fast vessel with a
compliment of eight enlisted personnel and a six-man team of
navy Special Operations Unit (Navy Seal) "for immediate
dispatch as soon as sea conditions improve," Arevalo added.

Also on Monday at 1:30 p.m., a two-engine search plane was
deployed to the area after two smaller search planes that
took off at 10:30 a.m. aborted their flights due to strong
winds.

Safety
"While time is literally ticking, the two Cessna planes had
to abort their flight for search mission due to strong winds
critical to the safety of such aircraft. They were put on
standby until the weather improves," Arevalo said.

He said in lieu of the single-engine Cessna planes, a
Philippine Navy Islander (PNI 312) aircraft was deployed to
the search area.

"While we are yearning to search and rescue the crew of the
missing vessels, we would like also to ensure the safety of
rescuers so they will be able to accomplish their mission,"
Arevalo explained.

In Lucena City, PCG Lucena station commander Lt. Joel Ogorida
said rescuers found the three survivors and the body of
another crew member still wearing life jackets.

Petty Officer 1 Leopoldo Robledo, PCG detachment commander in
Barangay Dalahican here, said the rescued crew members were
taken care of by doctors in General Luna and Catanauan.

Robledo said Cortejos told him that the vessel had 16 crewmen
when it sanks in the waters off Goto Point near Bonton Island
in Romblon.

"When the ship was battered by strong waves and before it was
about to sink, the ship captain ordered his crew to abandon
ship. He (ship captain) said all the 16 crewmen were able to
snatch life jackets before diving into the sea," Robledo said.

He said the vessel was loaded with steel products and was
sailing towards Cebu.

Navy joins search for missing ship

By Victor Reyes

MALAYA, TUESDAY AUGUST 10, 2010

THE Navy has joined search and rescue operations for
SF Freighter, a 498-ton cargo vessel with 16 crew
members which lost radio contact during inclement
weather last Saturday.

The Navy dispatched a twin-engine Islander plane and
two single engine Cessna planes to join the search
mission, said spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo.

The Coast Guard yesterday recovered a body of one of
the crew members.

It said Joselito Cortejos, the ship captain; Jerry
Cortez, a crane operator; and Joseph Jabonete, an
assistant engineer, were rescued at the shoreline of
Quezon province.

The Coast Guard said that according to Cortejos, the
cargo vessel developed engine trouble and was
subsequently battered by big waves and strong winds
around 1:30 a.m. It sank around 2:20 a.m.

Arevalo said search and rescue operations for the
remaining crew members are focused in the vicinity
of Dos Hermanas island.

"The expanded search area is now 900 square nautical
miles taking into account drift, then-prevailing
weather condition, and other data available," said
Arevalo.

He said the Islander plane is now in the search area.
Arevalo said the Cessna planes had to abort "due to
strong winds and will be on standby until the weather
improves.

The BRP Rajah Humabon, the biggest Navy vessel at
present, has been sent to help in the search and rescue
operation.

Also on standby is a Diesel Fast vessel with a six-man
team of Philippine Navy Special Operations Unit (SEAL)
for immediate dispatch once sea conditions improve.

Sa patuloy na search and rescue ops sa naglahong freighter, kapitan nailigtas, crew patay

Ni Verlin Ruiz

Remate, Martes, Agosto 10, 2010

Lalaong pinag-ibayo ng Philippine Navy at Philippine
Coast Guard ang kanilang sinasagawang search and rescue
operations para sa lumubog na cargo ship na SF Freighter
na may lulang bakal sa may bisinidad ng Romblon.

Ito ay matapos na matagpuan ang kapitan ng barko at
isang tripulante nito habang isa pang crew ang nakitang
bangkay na ng mga tauhan ng coast guard kahapon.

Ayon kay Navy spokesman Marine Col. Edgard Arevalo,
tuloy tuloy ang ginagawang search and rescue operation
ng mga sea asset ng Philippine Navy na malapit sa area
habang bandang alas 10:30 ng umaga kahapon ay lumipad
din ang Phil Navy Cessna 330 at ang PN Cessna 324 para
hanapin ang nalalabing 12 pasahero.

Iniulat ng Philippine Coast Guard na natagpuang buhay
ang kapitan ng barkona si Jolito Cortejos at isa pang
crew nito subalit patay na nang makita ang isang crew
ng SF Freighter 498 ton cargo vessel na iniulat na
nawawala noong pang Sabado ng madaling araw sa Isabela
Island sa Romblon

Saklaw ng expanded 900 nautical miles search and rescue
ang bisinidad ng General Luna, Quezon.

Ang MV SF Freighter, na lulan ang 16 na mga tripulante
at kapitan ay mula sa Metro Manila at patungo sana ng
Cebu, subalit pagdating sa Dos Hermanas Island sa
Marinduque ay sinalubong ng malalaking alon ang barko
at hindi na gumana ang makina at nawalan na rin ito ng
radio signal.

Mabuti na lamang ay nakapag-ulat pa ang kapitan ng narko
sa may-ari na si Henden Chua ng Sea Food Shipping Company
na nakabase sa Bacolod City.

PN intercepts rice, sugar off Tawi-Tawi

By ELENA L. ABEN

Manila Bulletin, August 4, 2010, Thursday

At least 11 suspected smugglers, two of them claiming
to be Bureau of Customs (BoC) personnel, were arrested
by the Philippine Navy (PN) for trying to sneak in more
than P6 million worth of rice, sugar, and other taxable
cargos through the waters of the southern border in
Lamion, Tawi-Tawi.

Lt. JG. Rommel Rodriguez, public affairs officer of the
Philippine Fleet at Naval Base Heracleo Alano in Sangley
Point, Cavite City, said the suspects were arrested
midnight of August 1.

Rodriguez said the ship BRP Dioscoro Papa (PG381)
intercepted “M/L Parhata” while on patrol at the southeast
off Lamion Point in Tawi-Tawi.

More than 3,400 sacks of Vietnam rice, 300 sacks of sugar
and other undocumented taxable cargos were found onboard
M/L Parhata, according to Rodriguez.

He said 11 crew of M/L Parhata were immediately apprehended
and turned over to customs authorities in Lamion Pier,
Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

However, two of the 11 crew who were arrested claimed they
are Customs agents and that they had already apprehended
M/L Parhata, but failed to present a mission order authorized
by BoC. Rodriguez said the two were also not in their uniform
when caught.

“According to Awab Dawami, the skipper of M/L Parhata, the two
men never identified themselves to him when they boarded his
vessel and never asked him to present any papers supporting
the transportation of the contraband items he was carrying,”
said Rodriguez.

The two men who claimed to be BoC agents were identified as
Atari Misuari and Duksin Jaji.

Authorities are now checking their identities and if they are
indeed customs agents with appropriatemission order.

Rodriguez said M/L Parhata, enroute for Bongao, Tawi-Tawi from
Sabah, Malaysia is owned by a certain Ibnosalin Gadjali, of
Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

Navy nabs 11 suspected smugglers in Tawi-Tawi

By Alexis Romero

The Philippine Star, August 05, 2010, Thursday

Navy troops have apprehended 11 suspected smugglers,
including two persons who claimed to be Customs
employees, for trying to sneak in more than P6.42 million
worth of contraband off Lamion Point in Tawi-Tawi.

In a statement, Ltjg. Rommel Rodriguez, Navy Fleet public
affairs officer, said BRP Dioscoro Papa intercepted last
Sunday M/L Parhata while patrolling 800 yards southeast
off Lamion Point.

Rodriguez said more than 3,400 sacks of Vietnamese rice,
300 sacks of sugar and other taxable cargoes without
proper documents were found on board M/L Parhata.

Eleven crewmen of M/L Parhata were brought to Customs
authorities in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi for the filing of
charges against them.

However, two of those arrested claimed to be Customs
employees who had already confiscated the illegal items.
The two were identified as Atari Misuari and Duksin Jali.

“But (Misuari and Jali) failed to present a mission order
authorized by the BOC (Bureau of Customs). Moreover, they
were not in their uniforms when they were caught,”
Rodriguez said.

Awab Dawami, captain of M/L Parhata, said the two did not
identify themselves when they boarded the vessel.

He added that he was never asked to show documents that
would support the contraband on board the ship.

Rodriguez said they are now verifying if Misuari and Jali
are really connected with the BOC.

The BOC has vowed to coordinate with other state agencies
to run after smugglers and to meet its P280-billion target
for this year.

Intensifying the drive against smugglers is one of the
measures being undertaken by the government to raise
revenues and to contain the budget deficit, which is
expected to hit P325 billion this year.

11 hinihinalang 'smugglers' nalambat ng Navy

Ni: Bobby C Ticzon

TALIBA, Agosto 5, 2010, Huwebes

INARESTO ng mga tauhan ng Philippine navy ang
labingisang sinasabing smugglers nang magtangka
silang magpalusot ng mga kargamento sa Lamion,
Tawi-tawi.

Naharang ng mga tauhan ng BRP Dioscoro Papa ang
M/L Paharta sa pagtatangkang ipasok ang mga iligal
na kargamentong nagkakahalaga ng P6.42 million.

Kabilang dito ang 3,400 sako ng Vietnam rice, 300
sako ng asukal at iba pang undocumented taxable
cargos na mula naman sa Sabah, Malaysia.

Dalawa sa mga inaresto ang nagpakilalang Custom
agents at sinasabing inaresto ang mga tripulante
ng ML Paharta subalit bigo ang mga itong mag pakita
ng mission order.

Inihahanda ng awtoridad ang pagsasampa ng kaso laban
sa mga suspect.

11 ismagler tiklo sa Navy

Ni: MO

POLICE FILES, Agosto 5, 2010, Huwebes

UMAABOT sa 11 katao na diumano mga smuggler ang naresto
ng mga Philippine Navy makaraang tangkain na magpalusot
ng mga kargamento sa lamion, Tawi-tawi.

Dalawa sa mga naaresto ang mga nagpapakilalang custom
agent makaraan mabigong magpakita ng kanilang mission
order na 'di umano'y inaaresto ang mga tripulante ng
ML Paharta.

Nabatid na naharang ng BRP Dioscoro Papa ang M/L Paharta
nang tangkain nito ipasok ang mga kargamento na
nagkakahalaga ng P6.42 million.

Kabilang sa mga itinangkang ipuslit ay may 3,400 sako
ng Vietnam rice, 300 sako ng asukal at iba pang undocument
taxable cargos na mula sa Sabah, Malaysia.

Sa kasalukuyan ay inihahanda na ng mga awtoridad ang
paghaharap ng kaso laban sa mga naaresto.

11 smugglers timbog sa Navy

Ni: Dang Garcia

HATAW, Agosto 5, 2010, Huwebes

INARESTO ng mga tauhan ng Navy ang 11 hinihinalang
smugglers dahil sa pagtatangkang ipalusot ang mga
kargamento sa Lamion, Tawi-tawi.

Naharang ng mga tauhan ng BRP Dioscoro Papa ang M/L
Parhata sa pagtatangkang ipasok ang mga kargamento
na nagkakahalaga ng P6.42 million.

Kabilang dito ang 3,400 sako ng Vietnam rice, 300
sako ng asukal at iba pang undocumented taxable cargos
na mula sa Sabah, Malaysia.

Dalawa sa mga inaresto ang nagpakilalang custom agents
at sinabibg inaresto nila ang nga tripulante ng ML
Parharta ngunit bigo silang magpakita ng mission order.

Inihahanda na ng mga awtoridad ang pagsasampa ng kaso
laban sa mga naaresto.

Navy keen on moving headquarters

By Fernando M Cariaso

Peoples' Journal,Saturday, July 31, 2010

The Philippine Navy will transfer its headquarters to
Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City once plans to lease its
headquarters in Roxas Boulevard in order to raise
revenues for the Navy's modernization push through,
Navy spokesperson Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo yesterday said.

In his first State of the Nation, President Benigno
Aquino mentioned the transfer of the Navy Headquarters
to Camp Aguinaldo from its current office, the Naval
Station or Fort Jose Andrada, along Roxas Blvd.

The 1.3 hectare Navy owned land on Roxas Boulevard is
sought to be leased under a public-private partnership
that is expected to provide much-needed revenues for
the modernization of the Navy's equipment. Aquino also
noted that there is already an offer to lease the Roxas
Boulevard property for $100 million.

Arevalo, however, said some civilians and enlisted
members of the Navy are apprehensive about the proposal.

"Some members of the Navy were surprised because this is
a top-to-bottom decision. This recommendation from the
Navy leadership is the new scheme to acquire additional
funds for modernization,"Arevalo said.

He explained the planned transfer will not affect its
ships since most berth at the Naval Base Sangley Point
and in the Naval Station Pascual Ledesma, both in Cavite.

"Walang epekto na mararamdaman for strategic values,
except maybe for sentimental reasons," Arevalo explained,
nothing that the Navy has been based at its Roxas Boulevard
property since 1937.

He made it clear that the properties will not be sold but
will only be leased for a certain period. Once the
partnership ends, the property will be returned to the
military, including the developments on it made by interested
private parties.

Aside from its Roxas Boulevard property, the Navy is also
planning to lease the 30-hectare Bonifacio Naval Station
in Fort Bonifacio, an area near the commercial district
in Makati.

Navy lots for lease to business groups

By Edith Regalado and Jaime Laude

The Philippine Star, Thursday, July 29, 2010

Negotiations to lease out the Navy’s major facilities
on Roxas Boulevard and in Taguig City for private
commercial development in order to raise funds for
fleet modernization are in advanced stages, President
Aquino told The STAR yesterday when he attended the
24th anniversary celebration at the paper’s offices
in Port Area.

He also said the private developer, who he declined
to name until the deal is finalized, is willing to
give an initial $100 million as goodwill money, enough
for the Philippine Navy to purchase four new ships to
patrol the country’s 36,000 nautical miles of coastline.
He noted that the Navy currently has 32 ships in its
fleet, and most of these vessels are “mas matanda pa
as akin (older than I am).” Mr. Aquino is 50 years old.

President Aquino, in his first State of the Nation Address
last Monday, disclosed the military’s plan to have the
Navy headquarters on Roxas Boulevard in Manila as well
the Naval Station at Fort Bonifacio leased to and developed
by private groups.

“They will take care of the funding necessary to transfer
the Navy headquarters to Camp Aguinaldo. Immediately, we
will be given $100 million. Furthermore, they will give us
a portion of their profits from their businesses that would
occupy the land they will rent,” he said.

“In short, we will meet our needs without spending, and we
will also earn. There have already been many proposals from
local and foreign investors to provide for our various needs,
” he said.

“We will be able to construct the needed infrastructure in
order to help tourism grow,” he said.

“The Philippine Navy welcomes this development,” Lt. Col. Edgard
Arevalo, spokesman of the Philippine Navy, said in reaction to
Mr. Aquino’s announcement.

“We need to modernize but we have no money. So we have to come
up with alternative sources of funding,” Arevalo said.

The Fort Bonifacio Naval station, which covers a golf course,
housing units for officers and enlisted personnel, a hospital,
and the headquarters of the Philippine Marines, covers an area
of approximately 22 hectares.

The Army, meanwhile, has some 100 hectares of land at Fort
Bonifacio in Taguig City while the Air Force has 30 hectares at
the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

“They will develop at no cost to us and then we will be sharing
profits. The properties remain ours. This is what we call public-
private partnership,” Arevalo said.

“The Army and Air Force should come up with similar recommendations
which is the leasing of valuable lands without really losing
ownership,” AFP spokesman, Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta said.

Camp Aguinaldo would eventually be the headquarters of all
three major services as well as the Department of National
Defense, just like the Pentagon in Virginia in the United
States.

Mabanta said the Armed Forces has a sizable share in the
proceeds from the sale of military real estate assets by
the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

“It (proposed public-private partnership) will be one of
the possible sources of funds. At this point, the major
fund is the proceeds from the BCDA. We are getting a lion’s
share of it as well as from government appropriations,
” Mabanta said.

Navy-private venture falls of BCDA loop

By JOVEE MARIE N. DELA CRUZ

The Manila Times, Thursday, 29 July 2010

The Philippine Navy spokesman said that the partnership
between Navy and the private companies would not undergo
the procedure set by the state-owned Bases Conversion
and Development Authority (BCDA). “The 30-hectare lot
No. 1, where the Naval station in Fort Bonifacio is
located, is not part of the BCDA. It is a Navy property,
” said Lt. Col. Edward Arevalo, Navy spokesman, adding,
“It will not go through the long bidding process of BCDA.”

“We have a property in [Fort] Bonifacio that has not been
optimized . . . so we said why not we enter into a public-
private partnership to fully utilized the property,”
he said in Filipino.

The Navy is still waiting for President Benigno Aquino 3rd
to sign the executive order to start the public-private
partnership.

The Naval officer also said that there are many private
companies who are interested to partner with the agency
in this development but they not chosen yet.

In this type of partnership, the private proponent would
rent the Navy property in Roxas, Boulevard—where its
headquarters is currently located and the Naval Station
in Fort Bonifacio for $100 million.

All proceeds of this development will go to the Navy’s
trust funds, while the Board of Trustees is the one who
manage its income.

The Board of Trustees is composed of the secretary of
National Defense, the chief of staff of Armed Forces of
the Philippines and flag officer in command
of the Philippine Navy.

Navy officers' wives hold breast cancer awareness drive in Bicol

Philippine Daily Inquirer, Thursday, July 29, 2010

The Philippine Navy Officers' Wives Association Inc.
(PNOWA) spearheads a Seminar on Breast Cancer Prevention
cum Medical Mission in Barangay Rawis here starting today
(Friday, July 23), announce the Public Affairs Office of
the Naval Forces Southern Luzon (Navforsol).

Commodore Joel Babas, commander of the Navforsol told PIA
News Service that the activity is a parallel endeavor of
the PNOWA to complement the continuing programs of the
Philippine Navy across the country to uplift the morale
and enhance the well-being not only of the Navy officers
and personnel but also their family, relatives and dependents,
much as the community the Navy serves.

Babas added that similar activities will also be conducted
at the Navforsol Fleet-Marine Quarterdeck in Julahasan Arasain
Headquarters in Barangay Rawis to be manned by the naval
station's organic and Opcon units' personnel the next day
starting at 9:00 am. PNOWA is an association of all wives
of officers of the Navy, led by the wife of the Flag Officer
in Command of the Philippine Navy.

PNOWA has tapped the Gift2Life (G2L), a non-government
organization with health and medical fields of work, to
provide for the doctors to hold lectures on breast cancer
prevention, thereafter render clinical services to the
community. One breast cancer survivor, a member of the
contingent, will share testimonials on coping up and pursuing
one's dreams and aspirations despite stricken by the disease.

Babas remarked that this initiative is indeed a great
opportunity that should be taken advantage of every resident
to learn as cancer is the third leading cause of death in the
country following communicable diseases and cardiovascular
diseases. He shared that breast cancer is second to lung cancer
among the six leading causing-death cancers. In spite of the
stark reality, there is at present a low cancer prevention
consciousness in the entire country. Most Filipino cancer
patients seek medical advice only when symptomatic or at
advanced stage. As a result, for every two new cancer cases
diagnosed annually, one dies within a year.

Elite forces, ipinadala sa Mindanao para durugin ang Abu Sayyaf

Ni: Fer taboy

BALITA, Hulyo 27, 2010

Nag pahiwatig ang pamahalaan na maglulunsad ng malaking
pagsalakay sa bandidong Abu Sayyaf sa pagpapadala ng
karagdagang elite forces ng Armed forces of the Philippines
(AFP) sa Mindanao.

Ayon kay AFP Spokesman Brigadier General Jose mabanta,
ipinadala na ng AFP noong Biernes ang karagdagang tropa
na pawang kasapi ng elite forces upang tugisin at durugin
ang bandidong Abu Sayyaf sa Western Mindanao.

Ipinadala ng AFP ang 23 miyembro ng Naval Operations Group
(Navsog) ng Philippine Navy sa lalawigan ng Tawi-Tawi at
Zamboanga upang tumulong sa digma ng militar sa terorismo.

Sinabi ni Navy Spokesman Lt. (Sg.) Rommel Rodriguez na
ang grupo ay kinabibilangan ng mga miyembro ng elite forces
ng Hukbong Dagat.

"They were deployed to reinforce the Armed Forces' fight
against (terrorists) in Mindanao, which they vowed to put
an end to as pronounced by the AFP," ani Rodriguez.

Ang team ay binibuo ng mga sundalong sinanay sa combat
operation sa lupa, himpapawid at karagatan gaya ng US
Navy SEALs, na umalis sa Villamor Air base sa Pasay City
sakay ng C-130 palne at ilang sundalong nanguna na sa
pagdurog sa puwersa ni Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Sabaya sa
Zamboanga noong 2002.

Tututukan ng militar ang Tawi-Tawi at Zamboanga na
sinasabing strongholds ng Abu Sayyaf na isinasangkot sa
mga pambobomba at kidnapping sa Mindanao at Metro Manila.

Military adopts safety measures to rescue kidnapped Japanese

By: Noynoy E. Lacson

Tempo, July 19, 2010, Monday

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Government authorities in Sulu have
adopted on Saturday a military "rescue safety measures"
aimed to recover safely the 63-year-old Japanese who
were abducted by armed men in Sulu.

Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command
(AFP-WesMinCom) commander Lt. Gen. Benjamin Mohammad
Dolorfino said that the military in Sulu has now located
the whereabouts of Amir Katayama Mamaito.

Mamaito was abducted by 10 gunmen at around 1 p.m. Friday
in Sitio Bas, Barangay Bangkilay, Pangutaran town, Sulu.

Dolorfino, however, did not reveal the captive's location
in Sulu, citing efforts by the joint Task Force Commet (JTFC)
to safely recover him is on going.

Dolorfino said the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM),
headed by Rear Admiral Alexander Pama, has deployed water
crafts around the island where Mamaito was taken.

Identity of Japanese’s abductor known: AFP

By: Victor Reyes

Malaya, July 19, 2010, Monday

THE military yesterday said it has achieved a breakthrough
in resolving the kidnapping of Japanese national Katayama
Mamaito in a remote village in Pangutaran town in Sulu last
Friday.

In a phone interview, Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo
said they have already identified the leader of the group
that snatched Mamaito (other reports identified him as Toshio
Ito) Friday afternoon at Sitio Bas in Barangay Bangkilay.

"We already have a name but we cannot reveal the name of the
suspected leader of that group because we are conducting
followup and pursuit operations. We don’t want to alarm them,
or alert them," said Arevalo.

Arevalo said they are now coordinating with the Japanese
embassy to determine if Ito and Mamaito are two different
persons who are currently in the Philippines.

"We are clarifying (Mamaito’s) identity because he is using
two different names and we are looking for him, together with
the Philippine National Police. We are pressing on that effort,
" Arevalo said.

Arevalo said they have yet to ascertain if their suspect has
any group affiliation. A number of armed groups are known to
operate in Sulu, including the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group which
has been involved in a number of high-profile kidnapping, and
rogue elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

"There was no mention of group affiliation but they are following
a lead," Arevalo said.